Distance no longer barrier to devotion of Chinese fans

NANJING — On a crisp, breezy evening in Tianjin, a young couple strolled back to their hotel, their steps light, and their hearts brimming with joy. Softly, they hummed infectious tunes from the electrifying concert they had just attended by G.E.M. They had traveled from Beijing to attend their favorite pop star's show.

"It wasn't a cheap outing," says Zhou Yi, who detailed how, in addition to the concert tickets, which totaled 2,760 yuan ($384), their three-night hotel stay, train tickets, shopping, and other costs added a further 2,800 yuan. "But it was worth every penny."

Zhou describes the atmosphere as exhilarating, saying that they had both felt enveloped by the sea of 30,000 enthusiastic fans, united in singing and cheering. "The joy of being amid so many like-minded souls, all sharing the same passion, was nothing short of bliss," she says.